Richmond dispatch. [volume] (Richmond, Va.) 1884-1903, 1887-08-04
ORR FARMERS IN COUNCIL.
Meeting Of the state Assembly I'm
misunderstanding Speeches.
ispecial gel ceram to the Dispatch.l

Caroline. presiding.
There were about forty members OF
The convention and few others pres
emit. IN the beginning Colonel Robert
". Beverley, Of Fauquier, moved that
a committee be appointed 20 adopt
resolutions in harmony with the inter
State law. He spoke briefly on the
resolution, when Major Mann Page
rose and made a speech. He said 1t
was necessary for the farmers to band
together and form a platform. If this
was done the farmers would receive the
same considerations, and if similar or
carnations were formed all over the
country the farmers would become a
strength in the land.
Colonel Beverley said the time had
come, especially as il was on the csc OF
a Democratic convention, when the
farmer must consider what 1t will Do
for him. "Never since the Indians
left our shores have the farmers been
worse off than to-day. We have been
on our knees to Congress for years to
help Us, but they have given rs no as
sistance, though millions of dollars arc
piled up in the Treasury" Colonel
Beverley said lie had been one OF a
committee to urge upon Congress the
passage Of the interstate commerce
bill. and though it had been gotten
through in an emascnlated form, it had
afforded relief from the railroads. Tho
speaker 10 show the unjust discrlmlna-
ton Of transportation companies, cited
the case OF a man in Missouri who was
forced to sell his wheat for sixteen
cents because he could not ply the ex
orbitant freight for they charged him
eight cents for its conveyance ninety
six miles whereas they sent 1t from
St. Louis east 300 miles for ten cents.
He favored asking the Democratic
convention to recognize the agricutu-
raj inter ests in the convention. II
they refuse :" exclaimed be, "we must
appeal to the people aud try to send
delegates TO the Legislature who will
give rs aid. even if their views ore not
embodied in the Democratic platform. "
He urged his motion for the appoint
ment of a committee that It's number
be five, and that slid committee formu-
late planks which shall beiucOrpOr.ted
in their platform.
NEUTRALITY-SUSPICIOUS. G. Field,
Of Orange, SAID somebody had remark
FL that the farmers were trying %
break up the Democratic party. "Grsat
God. what ives tine Democratic parry
except the farmers Of Virginia ? Bat
We have reached that position waen Our
wrongs must he righted. We are going
TO ask for fish and we don't intend to
take a serpent. You can't take the
farmers from tho Democratic party and
preserve it alive, and nobody ought to
he so reckless as TO make such n charge.
He had been all over the State and
spoken for the party, and what had he
talked about ? he Lad told the people
We would abolish this odious internal
revenue if we got in power. We'll, we
got in power, and where are we to-day !?
We have the same odious laws We had
in 1860"
The speaker alleged that Mr. Carlisle
had refused to recognize a certain
member on the floor OF the House be-
cause he knew he wanted TO abolish
the intcnal-reycnue taxes. Mr.. Ran
dali had likewise refused 10 allow the
tariff to be reformed. What are We
going to do? How are we going be-
fore the people? We can't make the
same promises oyer again, because they
will say You haze been doing that
since 1866"
Ind about the debt quos ion; what
could the convention do about that :?
Stand by the Eiddleberger settlement /?
Haven't We been doing that for years +?
Didn't the Lynchburg convention
swear by all the gods in Heaven 10
stand by it? The Stlte-debt question
can be fixed, though, when Legls!a-
ture is elected that will reduce taxes to
eight or ten cents on the Si0), and
then make assessments for eleemOsy-
nary institutions. Then coupons can
be kept ont of the Treasury.
The speaker thought the proper way
TO proceed would be to say 10 the con-
yention: Our farmers are entitled to as
much consideration as anybody and
also to say that the farmers IN other
States shall not send their products
over the roads in this State for less
than wo can and that ii You
will take the iron hands OF the
railroads off the Threats of Our people
WE will be able to pay off the $50, 900, 900
State debt III five years. Then tho I'M
Just tribute that now goes to the rail
roads viii 90 to the State debt. We
must 1ise in our might. Ii we get the
hands of those companies OIL US then
the old halcyon days of prosperity Will
raturn-those days wien Virginia was
rs happy rs any Government in the
world for all-white and black, bond
and free. All that We farmers want Is
to tie relieved of the olious burdens
and Determinations against us.
Mr.. Brown, of Bedford, said he was
sent to the convention from one OF the
most Democratic and conservative
counties in the State, but he was not
sent here to pass resolutions threatening
the Democratic party. He WAS in favor
Of the passage Of such resolution as
the following:
RtsOlUcd, That We, as representative
farmers, ask that the Committe on
Resolutions incorporate into the plat
form offered to the convention the FOL
lowing propositions
/. Favoring State railroad law to
work in unison with the interstate law.
,. Fayoring the abolition Of internal
revenue taxes on tobacco and fruit
brandies.
3. Favoring tariff for revenue only
for the economical administration of
the Government
\ great deal Of confusion AMI discus
sion followed this, which was offered rs
a substitute for the motion asking the
appointment OF committee of five.
Presently General Field offered the
following addition to the first section :
And for the protection OF the people
of Virginia against unjust discrimina-
ton in the transportation OF passengers
and freights by the transportation com
panies of the State. "
The first two paragraphs OF the reso-
luton were agreed to. bat the last one
in regard to the tariff was rejected.
A motion was then carried 20 appoint
committee of five anyhow to transact
such business as the assembly may
bring before it. The Chair { Mr.. Tyler,
of Pulaski, at the time) appointed DR..
NJ. Q. Holt, of Surry General James
a. - \ 4 h 4.